Friday, March 7, 2014

The Israel California Strategic Partnership

Memorandum of Understanding On the Establishment of a Strategic
Partnership for Joint Innovation, Exchanges and Cooperation Between The
Government of the State of California, United States of America And The
Government of the State of Israel

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA (hereinafter "the Participants") RECOGNIZE THAT:

WHEREAS, two-way trade between Israel and California totaled over $4
billion in 2013 - one of the largest two-way trade relationships between
Israel and a U.S. State; and

WHEREAS, the State of California and the State of Israel share close
ties and are global leaders in the alternative energy, environmental
technology, and other technology-based industry sectors; and

WHEREAS, the State of California is home to the largest in-state
innovation network in the United States, which offers
technology-commercialization opportunities for the State of Israel; and

WHEREAS, the Participants seek to expand the current level of
cooperation between Israel and California in, but not limited to,
alternative energy, environmental technology, health, food and
agriculture and other technology based industry sectors, business
innovation, research and development.

THEREFORE, IT IS DECLARED AS FOLLOWS:

The Participants hereby sign this Memorandum of Understanding for the
purposes of establishing a formal relationship between them to foster
economic cooperation and economic development, facilitate joint
industrial research and development, and enhance business relationships
and educational opportunities to foster job creation and incubate global
solutions from joint California-Israel innovation initiatives.

To achieve these aims:

1. The Participants intend to seek to convene bilateral, interagency and
inter-ministerial working groups with international expertise to
coordinate initiatives.

3. The Participants intend to support and encourage their people and
competent authorities to further develop interpersonal contacts and
exchanges, and to promote mutual cooperation, understanding, and
friendship by encouraging ad hoc task forces, trade delegations, and
professional exchanges between Israel and California in key sectors
including, but not limited to:

a.) Water Conservation and Management

b.) Alternative Energy and related Clean Technologies

c.) Health and Biotechnology Solution

d.) CyberSecurity

e.) Arts & Culture

f.) Education

g.) Agricultural Technologies

4. The Participants intend to support and encourage the creation of
public-private partnerships between Californian and Israeli entities in
these areas of economic development, social entrepreneurship, or
academic research related to the above activities.

5. The Participants intend to support and encourage the strengthening of
sister city programs between Israeli and California cities, which are
designed to enhance opportunities for cultural and educational
exchanges, economic partnerships, and social entrepreneurship on the
local level.

6. The Participants intend to encourage collaboration between California
and Israeli universities, public and private research institutions.

This Memorandum of Understanding is intended to become effective on the
date it is signed and does not create any legally binding rights or
obligations for either Participant. This Memorandum of Understanding was
signed in Mountain View on the 5th day of March, 2014, corresponding to
the 3rd day of Adar II of 5774.